BBC to rest Doctor Who during 2009

by Staff, Brand Republic 04-Sep-07, 11:00

LONDON - The BBC is to rest its hit revival of 'Doctor Who' for a year meaning there will be no series during 2009.

The fourth series of 'Doctor Who' starring David Tennant as the Doctor and Catherine Tate as his new assistant is due to hit screens in 2008. After that fans will have to wait until 2010 for new episodes.

However, Tennant will star in three 'Doctor Who' specials, which will be written by series reviver Russell T Davies. These special episodes will air in 2009.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said there was no word on whether the fifth series would feature Tennant as the Doctor. Speculation is that he will stand down and be replaced for the fifth series.

The fourth series, which began filming in July, will again come complete with a special Christmas episode. The 2006 Christmas special saw Tate's character make her first appearance. She was confirmed as the new assistant earlier this year, replacing Freema Agyeman, as the third series completed its run.

Agyeman, who starred as Martha Jones, will also feature in some season four episodes and she will also appear in the second series of 'Doctor Who' spin off 'Torchwood'.

Jane Tranter, BBC Fiction controller, said: "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas. Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010."

Comments

TONY ATTWOOD - 04/09/2007

Not quite sure how I am going to cope with a whole year of no regular Doctor Who series. What on earth made them take this decision? Don't they have any sense of duty to the programme's addicts?